HEADLINES
Jenin raid kills three gunmen; no casualties
Hamas expands Europe plots from Lebanon HQ
Smotrich pushes settlements as elections loom

The time is now 3:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the 3:00 a.m. news update. We begin with security developments in the West Bank where Israeli forces conducted a raid in the northern district near Jenin. Israeli police and counter-terrorism units said three Palestinian gunmen who had emerged from a cave in the village of Kafr Qud were killed during the operation, which included sniper fire and an airstrike on the cave. Israeli authorities said the raid was aimed at thwarting a planned attack and that ground troops exchanged fire with militants near the scene. The Israeli military reported that two gunmen were killed by the counter-terrorism unit’s snipers and the third was killed by an airstrike on the cave; a separate account said the airstrike followed a short time after the snipers’ action. There were no Israeli casualties in that operation.

In the broader West Bank, Israeli forces remain stationed in and around Jenin and nearby refugee camps after a years-long pattern of operations. Defense Minister Israel Katz described the camps as hotbeds of terror funded and armed by Iran, saying the presence of troops has reduced the scope of terror alerts in Judea and Samaria by about 80 percent. Since the Gaza war began in October 2023, the Israeli military says it has arrested more than 6,000 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank, including more than 2,350 affiliated with Hamas. The Palestinian Health Ministry, citing its own figures, says more than 1,000 West Bank residents have been killed in that period. The Israeli military says the vast majority of those killed were gunmen or rioters and that security personnel have also been killed in the course of attacks and clashes.

Turn to the Gaza context and regional security posture. In recent weeks, Israeli air operations in the West Bank have become less frequent since a major January offensive in the northern West Bank, though occasional strikes on suspected targets continue. The Israeli air force has conducted dozens of strikes in the region over the past two years, including operations against caves and locations that housed militants. The current security posture reflects a dual aim: preventing attacks while maintaining pressure on organized groups operating in the areas around Jenin and similar locales.

Political and diplomatic developments at home and abroad also shape the security landscape. In Israel, the political field ahead of elections is crowded with new party formations from figures who have previously held influential roles, including former prime ministerial allies and senior military leaders. Analysts say such realignments could influence whether a broad anti-government coalition can coalesce, or whether the current government secures another term. On the West Bank policy front, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has been accelerating settlement construction, land declarations, and infrastructure projects in a bid to entrench security and sovereignty objectives in the area ahead of voters’ decisions. The Arab party landscape, cooperation among new and existing non-Haredi and Arab parties, and potential cross-machinations with religious and nationalist blocs also factor into the political calculus.

Internationally, the day brought a mixed set of developments. Talks in Istanbul between Afghanistan and Pakistan to broker a long-term truce ended without resolution, Afghan state media and a Pakistani security source said. Spokespeople for Afghanistan’s foreign ministry and Pakistan’s army and defence ministries did not respond to requests for comment. In a separate regional matter, reports from World Israel News highlighted a controversial claim that a senior Qatari official who advises the Qatari prime minister previously praised Hamas suicide bombings and accused President Trump of ruling a “racist empire.” The report underscores how public rhetoric from regional actors can influence perceptions and the diplomacy surrounding the Gaza war and its regional spillovers.

In another development, World Israel News reported that Hamas has expanded its terror operations across Europe, leveraging criminal networks and weapon caches, with its operational headquarters identified in Lebanon as a command center for activities abroad, including plots in Europe. Western and regional security officials are closely watching such networks as the Gaza war continues and militant groups seek footholds beyond the immediate theater.

On the military security front, Israeli security forces announced operations near Jenin and in Hebron and Dura to disrupt weapons workshops and to arrest individuals suspected of incitement to terrorism online. In one case, security forces foiled a planned attack near Jenin, killing two terrorists in a joint operation involving counter-terrorism units and helicopter-supported forces, with air force assets aiding the effort.

In the domestic front, there is ongoing attention to how the security apparatus analyzes past campaigns. Reports indicate that Israel is initiating comprehensive investigations into ground battles conducted over the past two years in Gaza and Lebanon, aiming to identify lessons and adjust force structure. A committee and multiple investigation teams have been established to review the major battles of the Gaza and Lebanon campaigns, with the aim of drawing actionable conclusions for future operations.

Looking ahead, observers will be watching how security operations, political realignments, and regional diplomacy interact as elections approach. The United States continues to maintain a security posture in the region, including ongoing multinational coordination in Israel, and remains engaged with partners on defense and stabilizing measures in a volatile neighborhood.

This is the 3:00 a.m. international update. We will continue monitoring these developments and report as events unfold.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

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